Debie Thomas's guest appearances

Debie Thomas

Be Still and Go

On Worship: Surprised By Light

James Martin

Shauna Niequist

Richard Rohr

Michael Thomas

Diana Butler Bass

Emily Jones

Jared Byas

Brandan Robertson

Shane Claiborne

Michael Curry

Kate Bowler

Brian McLaren

Rachel Johnson

Malinda Kathleen Reese

Amy Butler

OwlTail

"The wilderness is a dangerous place. You only go there if you have to. As we begin our journey into lent may we enter with courage into the deserts we can't choose or avoid. May our long stints in the wilderness teach us who we really are – the precious and beautiful children of God. And when the angels and all their sweet and secret guises whisper the name "beloved" into our ears may we listen and believe them."What "wilderness" have you experienced that has taught you who you really are? Where did you find God in that place?//Mark 1:9-15In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”//This episode was written and recorded by Debie Thomas. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms by Podington Bear, Not All Who Wander Are Lost by Greater Still, Fading Light by josh Lim, and The Soft Glow of Christmas Lights by Will Bangs.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all five seasons of Be Still and Go.Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.Debie Thomas is the  director of children's and family ministries at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Palo Alto, California. She also writes weekly lectionary reflections on her website, Journey With Jesus. Visit www.JourneyWithJesus.net to find out more.

"The wilderness is a dangerous place. You only go there if you have to. As we begin our journey into lent may we enter with courage into the deserts we can't choose or avoid. May our long stints in the wilderness teach us who we really are – the precious and beautiful children of God. And when the angels and all their sweet and secret guises whisper the name "beloved" into our ears may we listen and believe them." What "wilderness" have you experienced that has taught you who you really are? Where did you find God in that place? // Mark 1:9-15 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” // This episode was written and recorded by Debie Thomas. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms by Podington Bear, Not All Who Wander Are Lost by Greater Still, Fading Light by josh Lim, and The Soft Glow of Christmas Lights by Will Bangs. Visit <a href="http://www.trcnyc.org" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.trcnyc.org</a>/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all five seasons of Be Still and Go. Visit <a href="http://www.trcnyc.org" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.trcnyc.org</a>/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice. Debie Thomas is the director of children's and family ministries at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Palo Alto, California. She also writes weekly lectionary reflections on her website, Journey With Jesus. Visit <a href="http://www.JourneyWithJesus.net" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.JourneyWithJesus.net</a> to find out more.

The Wilderness Is a Dangerous Place (Debie Thomas)

“'Doubts and loves dig up the world like a mole, a plow,’ allowing the whispers of God’s spirit to bring forth new life."Where do you see whispers of God’s Spirit bringing forth new life around you?//The Place Where We Are Right by Yehuda AmichaiFrom the place where we are rightFlowers will never growIn the spring.The place where we are rightIs hard and trampledLike a yard.But doubts and lovesDig up the worldLike a mole, a plow.And a whisper will be heard in the placeWhere the ruinedHouse once stood.John 9As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.//This episode was written and recorded by Debie Thomas. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms, Rust, Peacock, and Fir by Podington Bear.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all five seasons of Be Still and Go.Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.Debie Thomas is the director of children's and family ministries at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Palo Alto, California. She writes lectionary essays at JourneyWithJesus.net.This season of Be Still and Go is supported in part by Convergence as they help share each episode with their community. (You should do the same!) Convergence a network that supports the reshaping of organizations, congregations and leaders engaged in an age of movement from “organized religion” to “organizing religion” driven by the values of an inclusive, progressive theological vision for a more just world for all. Visit www.convergenceus.org to find out more.

“'Doubts and loves dig up the world like a mole, a plow,’ allowing the whispers of God’s spirit to bring forth new life." Where do you see whispers of God’s Spirit bringing forth new life around you? // The Place Where We Are Right by Yehuda Amichai From the place where we are right Flowers will never grow In the spring. The place where we are right Is hard and trampled Like a yard. But doubts and loves Dig up the world Like a mole, a plow. And a whisper will be heard in the place Where the ruined House once stood. John 9 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out. Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains. // This episode was written and recorded by Debie Thomas. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms, Rust, Peacock, and Fir by Podington Bear. Visit <a href="http://www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo</a> to listen to more episodes from all five seasons of Be Still and Go. Visit <a href="http://www.trcnyc.org/Donate" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.trcnyc.org/Donate</a> to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice. Debie Thomas is the director of children's and family ministries at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Palo Alto, California. She writes lectionary essays at <a href="http://JourneyWithJesus.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">JourneyWithJesus.net</a>. This season of Be Still and Go is supported in part by Convergence as they help share each episode with their community. (You should do the same!) Convergence a network that supports the reshaping of organizations, congregations and leaders engaged in an age of movement from “organized religion” to “organizing religion” driven by the values of an inclusive, progressive theological vision for a more just world for all. Visit <a href="http://www.convergenceus.org" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.convergenceus.org</a> to find out more.

When New Life Appears (Debie Thomas)

“God’s Spirit hovers over the dark water preparing to create worlds. The child we wait for grows in the deep darkness of the womb."What is giving you hope right now?//Psalm 146:5-10Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,    whose hope is in the Lord their God,who made heaven and earth,    the sea, and all that is in them;who keeps faith forever;    who executes justice for the oppressed;    who gives food to the hungry.The Lord sets the prisoners free;    the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;    the Lord loves the righteous.The Lord watches over the strangers;    he upholds the orphan and the widow,    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.The Lord will reign forever,    your God, O Zion, for all generations.Praise the Lord!//This episode was written and recorded by Debie Thomas. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Relenquish by Podington Bear, Secret Place by Alex Fitch, and Overcoming Stage Fright by Dexter Britain.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all five seasons of Be Still and Go.Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.

“God’s Spirit hovers over the dark water preparing to create worlds. The child we wait for grows in the deep darkness of the womb." What is giving you hope right now? // Psalm 146:5-10 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord! // This episode was written and recorded by Debie Thomas. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Relenquish by Podington Bear, Secret Place by Alex Fitch, and Overcoming Stage Fright by Dexter Britain. Visit <a href="http://www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo</a> to listen to more episodes from all five seasons of Be Still and Go. Visit <a href="http://www.trcnyc.org/Donate" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.trcnyc.org/Donate</a> to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.